System and method for increased exit interrogation of RFID tags

Abstract

In an aspect, the present disclosure includes a system for interrogating a person exiting a store. The system comprises one or more pedestals positioned to define an exit portal leading to a point of exit, one or more mmWave sensors, fixedly positioned near the point of exit, configured to receive one or more reflected mmWave beams from a person approaching the point of exit and triggering an interrogation of a security tag; and one or more security tag readers, fixedly positioned with the one or more pedestals, configured to read data from the security tag passing through the exit portal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for interrogating a person exiting a store, comprising:
 one or more pedestals positioned to define an exit portal leading to a point of exit; 
 one or more mmWave sensors, fixedly positioned near the point of exit, configured to receive one or more reflected mmWave beams from a person approaching the point of exit and triggering an interrogation of a security tag; 
 one or more security tag readers, fixedly positioned with the one or more pedestals, configured to read data from the security tag passing through the exit portal in response to triggering the interrogation; and 
 an exit system configured to:
 steer beams of a first subset of the one or more security tag readers toward the person; and 
 disable a second subset of the one or more security tag readers, wherein the second subset include security tag readers beyond a threshold distance from the point of exit. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more security tag readers are further configured to steer one or more reader beams of the one or more security tag readers toward the person. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more security tag readers is further configured to:
 transmit a plurality of interrogation signals; and 
 receive a plurality of response signals in response to the plurality of interrogation signals transmitted. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more mmWave sensors are further configured to determine at least a distance between the one or more mmWave sensors and the person. 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more security tag readers are further configured to read the data from the security tag when the distance is below a threshold. 
     
     
       6. A method of interrogating a person exiting a store, comprising:
 transmitting one or more interrogation mmWave beams to a person approaching a point of exit; 
 receiving one or more reflected mmWave beams from the person; 
 triggering an interrogation of a security tag in response to receiving the one or more reflected mmWave beams; and 
 reading data from the security tag; 
 wherein triggering the interrogation of the security tag comprises:
 steering beams of a first subset of the one or more security tag readers toward the person; and 
 disabling a second subset of the one or more security tag readers, wherein the second subset include security tag readers beyond a threshold distance from the point of exit. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein triggering the interrogation of the security tag comprises steering one or more beams of one or more security tag readers toward the person. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein triggering the interrogation of the security tag comprises:
 transmitting a plurality of interrogation signals; and 
 receiving a plurality of response signals in response to the plurality of interrogation signals. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 determining at least a distance between the one or more mmWave sensors and the person. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein reading the data comprises reading the data from the security tag in response to the distance being below a threshold. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , further comprises suspending the interrogation in response to the first distance being above a threshold. 
     
     
       12. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 cause one or more mmWave transmitters to transmit one or more interrogation mmWave beams to a person approaching a point of exit; 
 cause one or more mmWave sensors to receive one or more reflected mmWave beams from the person; 
 triggering an interrogation of a security tag in response to receiving the one or more reflected mmWave beams; 
 reading data from the security tag; 
 steering beams of a first subset of the one or more security tag readers toward the person; and 
 disabling a second subset of the one or more security tag readers, wherein the second subset include security tag readers beyond a threshold distance from the point of exit. 
 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions for triggering the interrogation comprises instructions for steering one or more beams of one or more security tag readers toward the person. 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions for triggering the interrogation comprises instructions for:
 transmitting a plurality of interrogation signals; and 
 receiving a plurality of response signals in response to the plurality of interrogation signals. 
 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 12 , further comprising instructions for:
 determining at least a distance between the one or more mmWave sensors and the person. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions reading the data comprises instructions for reading the data from the security tag in response to the distance being below a threshold. 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising instructions for suspending the interrogation in response to the first distance being above a threshold.